via Over 1,500 Mozambicans have fled from South Africa – The Zimbabwean 23 April 2015
More than 1,500 Mozambicans have fled from the anti-foreigner pogroms in South Africa, using their own resources, the government spokesperson, Deputy Health Minister Mouzinho Saide announced on Tuesday,
Added to these are the 107 Mozambicans who returned from Durban on 18 April in buses made available by the government.
Speaking to reporters after the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), Saide said a further 400 Mozambicans were expected to return to the country on Tuesday and Wednesday “and all the conditions have been established to receive them decently, and then send them on to their places of origin”.
Said added that the government, through its diplomatic and consular missions in South Africa, is monitoring the situation. It is assisting those Mozambicans who have taken refuge in accommodation centres, as well as repatriating those who wish to return to Mozambique.
The government sent Deputy Interior Minister Jose Coimbra to South Africa, where he was able to speak to the authorities and check the conditions in the accommodation centres.
Saide said the Council of Ministers has instructed the provincial governments and the country’s relief agency, the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC), “to guarantee due follow-up and ensure rapid integration of those returning”.
The government was also appealing for “calm and serenity” among Mozambicans, rather than any retaliation, “since a cycle of violence does not help matters. Violence generates violence”.
The Council of Ministers also received a report on the state of health of former President Joaquim Chissano, who is currently hospitalized in South Africa. While on a flight from Ghana to Johannesburg on 13 April, Chissano fell ill, and was taken to the Pretoria Military Hospital.
Saide said that Chissano is recovering and his current state “is satisfactory”. He denied the malicious mobile phone text messages which are circulating claiming that Chissano is seriously ill.
The government sent Health Minister Nazira Abdula to visit Chissano, and photos of the Minister with a smiling Chissano have appeared on social media.
COMMENTS
If memory serves correctly, this latest wave of Xenophobia is worse than the last one, a few years back. In addition, it has resulted in a lot more immigrants repatriating, some with Government assistance – a “positive” outcome for the instigators. In addition the Rand remains greatly weakened. I dare say we have not seen the last of all this in years to come.